Month: June 2024

Gordie Howe International Bridge by Erik Behrens / AECOM   The Gordie Howe International Bridge project is nearing a major milestone with the imminent connection of the bridge decks over the Detroit River. This long-anticipated event will con…

For cities, hosting an Olympic event represents both an honor, an important opportunity for growth, and a significant challenge. With over 200 nations taking part in the Games, the Olympics are the largest sporting competition in the world. Adapting the public and sporting infrastructure to accommodate this sudden influx of people and the scale of these events runs the risk of misunderstanding the cities’ needs after the closing ceremony, often producing “white elephants” that struggle to adapt to the rhythm and necessities of everyday urban life. Urban transformations are often cited as an advantage of hosting the Olympic Games, as cities are incentivized to invest in their traffic infrastructure, housing, and public spaces. One such example is the city of Paris, which introduced its first metro line on the occasion of hosting the second edition of the Olympic Games in 1900.

Lying at the heart of the 92-hectare Meise Botanic Garden, The Green Ark Project features the successful renovation of 7,600 m2 of greenhouse complex and the installation of a spectacular hyperboloid pavilion made with sustainable Kebony Clear wood housing more than 10,000 species of endangered plants across 22 different greenhouses, each independently regulated to ensure optimal temperature and climate conditions for the diverse collection of flora. Amongst the pioneering new technologies installed at the Green Ark is an irrigation system that recycles the rainwater that falls onto the building, contributing to the reduction of energy consumption which has been halved in comparison to the old greenhouse facilities.

3XN GXN and landscape architect DETBLÅ have won the commissions for the design of a new Centre for Coastal Nature and Sport Fishing in Assens, Denmark. The proposal features a subtle oval structure to showcase local stories of the natural environment. The building aims to enhance public awareness and appreciation of the marine environment, reflecting a growing understanding of the need for better marine stewardship. It will also act as a hub for knowledge exchange about the impact of humans and climate change on the sea.

Guided by the 2040 Shanghai Master Plan, Shanghai West Bund, which emblemizes the century-long history of Chinese national industry, is evolving into the largest cultural and artistic district in Asia.

Republic Square in Ljubljana holds immense historical and symbolic significance for Slovenia. It is located in the historic center of the city and features a blend of buildings with different designs, scales, and dimensions, together with interconnected open spaces, passages, and underpasses. These elements form a multifunctional complex whose construction lasted more than 20 years and underwent several volumetric and programmatic reconfigurations. Visible from a distance and standing out above the Ursuline Church’s bell tower, two prominent office towers rise as part of this work designed by Edvard Ravnikar, the most prominent Slovenian architect of the second half of the 20th century.

When drawing, lines are fundamental elements of composition. They delineate space, outline structures, and define boundaries. When it comes to maps and borders, the line acquires a particular meaning, as this “simple” graphic expression marks a powerful division between regions, setting the beginning or the end of a territory. This line has a profound meaning at the limit between Mexico and the United States, where it constantly blurs and questions the border. In these places, multiculturalism is a daily occurrence, with a continuous negotiation of boundaries present in all aspects of life. The dynamic of these borders involves design and the generation of a complex network of interactions and collaborations.